Fear and trauma of Dawn Raids ‘continue to echo’
The Pacific hearing of the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry has started, with survivors expected to discuss the impacts of the Dawn Raids.
Tulou: Our Pacific Voices; Tatala e Pulonga is the first of its kind and will be held over two weeks at the Fale o Samoa in Ma¯ngere.
The first witness to give her testimony was New Zealand’s firstever Pacific MP Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban, who said the country needed to do more practically to fix the damage done to Pacific Islanders across Aotearoa.
She called for a more culturally aware social welfare service, immersed in Pacific ways of restorative justice.
Laban, who is the vicechancellor (Pasifika) at Victoria University of Wellington, said the seasonal work schemes and international agreements between New Zealand and Pacific Islands could be avenues for putting real money and support in the homes of Pasifika families.
‘‘Expanding this programme is one way that the New Zealand
Government can repair its relationship with the Pacific.’’
Some of that repair needs to deal with the 1970s Dawn Raids, and the history of racist policies that led to that era, she continued.
‘‘As a young woman, I witnessed the impacts of the Dawn Raids on Pacific Island communities. The fears and traumas of that time continue to echo, in ways that are very similar to the witness statements to this inquiry, and it’s encouraging to see that this Government will shortly make a public apology and offer some form of reparation.’’
She said New Zealand needed to better honour the economic contribution that Pacific Islanders have made to the country’s development. ‘‘I was deeply troubled when I found out that some Pacific Island children ended up in state care as a result of their parents being deported during the Dawn Raids,’’ she said.
‘‘I understand that some of these children suffered from abuse in care. I trust that this inquiry will investigate those cases and provide opportunities for restorative justice.’’
That restorative justice should be designed with Pacific cultural values, Laban said, such as the panpacific concept of the va, or relational space between people. ‘‘But I believe that there is a more profound aspect of Pacific cultural practice to it which many academics and writers have yet to understand fully, and that is the concept of ‘fa’a lelei le va’,’’ Laban said. ‘‘An English translation would be something like: ‘to make good the gap or the distance between yourself and others around you’.
‘‘This ancient Samoan concept is common to all Pacific peoples. It is about one’s physical, emotional, and spiritual space and relationship to all those around you.’’
The lead counsel assist for the royal commission, Tania Sharkey, began her opening statements by acknowledging the survivors in the room, those who have passed on
and those still unable to speak up about the abuse they experienced.
She said the experience of Pacific peoples across New Zealand has been marked by discrimination and neglect, which left the community over-represented in state care and in the criminal justice system.
Even today, it was hard to get a clear picture of just how bad the problem had been or continued to be, with poor reporting across government agencies leading to inaccurate data.
‘‘Inaccurate reporting is a form of neglect, and as we heard . . . has resulted in distinct forms of abuse for Pacific peoples,’’ Sharkey said.
Director of the Crown Secretariat Alana Ruakere said the Crown would not be questioning survivors or witnesses during the hearing, and intended only to listen, and learn from them.
‘‘The importance of survivors’ voices is recognised by the Crown. Their contribution cannot be overstated and their courage and strength inspires us all.
‘‘This hearing will be an opportunity for the Crown to confront uncomfortable events in the history of our nation . . . the Crown is listening carefully.’’
The public hearing considers the impacts of the Dawn Raids on individuals and the wider Pacific community – part of a bigger investigation into abuse and neglect in care from 1950 and 1999.
The minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio, said the Pacific hearing would give an opportunity for those victims of abuse in care to begin telling their stories.
‘‘And hopefully, in my view, will shine a light on the darkness that many have tried to cover up.’’
Over the next two weeks, the hearings will follow the story of Pacific survivors of abuse in state care.
They will talk about their migration to New Zealand, circumstances that saw them separated from their parents and families, and the care they received in their new country.